Redundancy process

[TOWGA]

I have just had a phone call to say I'm at risk of redundancy, it's shattered me cause while I know retail has been hit hard, we are a essential retail. I cried on the phone as I'm pregnant and shielding. I have never been through the redundancy process, so can someone tell me it, and how to keep calm?

Anyone?

You are at risk doesn’t mean you will be / but if it’s retail you must have an idea - will your job role still exist?

You can be made redundant while pregnant or on maternity leave, but there are strict rules that must be followed before this can happen. You can't be made redundant because you're pregnant or on maternity leave. If you are this counts as “automatic unfair dismissal” and discrimination.

Citizens advice is really helpful.
Pregnant the. Screwed us a great charity to ideal to who can give you advice and maternity action.

See what they say and speak to ACAS.

Basically it depends if you are being made redundant as there is genuinely no job for you - or if there is any discrimination due to your pregnancy.

How long have you worked there?

@Flackattack the job role will still exist, they are just getting rid of people to reduce hours, i think cause our business is essential, I thought everything was ok, but I'm shielding so haven't been back in since before Christmas. I'm currently 17 weeks pregnant and been there since august 2019, so not long

Our company told us in July that our office is closing in February this year and that we are at risk of redundancy, not had much communication from the head office but we know the new office will be in Leeds (We are in kent) and as far as I know there has been nobody employed for the roles that are moving up there and we are due to leave on Feb 26th but not had our notice yet and we are supposed to remote train the new people

I think just keep calm and explore your options, I've been looking for other work but just had reject after reject and it doesn't help that DH works in the same place so there will be a lot of extra stress come next month if neither of us can get anything

Give ACAS a call to discuss your options - they are really helpful and will help you understand your rights - if the business is still in existence then you may have negotiating power. Good luck - try not to worry (most unhelpful advise!) but just find out your options and go from there.

@TOWGA You really need to start contacting people now.

You will be told you are at risk. Then you will have a series of meetings called a consultation phase - this phase length depends on the number of employees in your company and the number they are making redundant. Ask for the new organisational structure as soon as possible. You may have to fight for your job against a colleague - if you are on maternity leave and your company don't pay full pay, and there is not enough work for everyone at the moment, maternity leave may work in your favour (because essentially, you will be cheap in those circumstances, and it's better than paying someone on furlough or full time way who has no work).

There are so many ifs and buts though. How many people are up for redundancy?

I went through this a few months ago, happy to talk it through it but would strongly advise you get proper advice and be warned I chose to take redundancy on a good package with all my terms (and there were many) accepted - I was under 2 years and was paid as if I had been their for 15 I think in the end - I was pregnant at the time but had a miscarriage after I made my decision. It was still the best option for me to take the package as I knew I had some fall back income I could earn.

No one else got a package above their time frame of employment, and I believe it's because I questioned without threats - I was seeking advice from various sources but I did not tell them that at the time. I went in prepared to each meeting. They also messed up the process and they knew I was questioning that too.

Would they put you on furlough instead of redundancy? At least until end of April while scheme is in operation. Are you CEV with shielding letter?

Thanks @Flackattack and @Animum2

@Peachered thanks for what you have put, I have no idea how many people are being made redundant, all they have said is I am at risk. They have also said they are gonna cut people's hours too. They wanted me to come in for a consultation next week but as I'm shielding they are going to have to do it remotely.

Like I say I know nothing about redundancy so now got to learn.

@caringcarer I'm already furloughed as I have a shielding letter and yes I am ECV.

And I'm not yet at the 25th qualifying week where I can get smp, I think that is my worry, about maternity as well!

Got my consultation on Thursday, going to be a scoring sheet that is filled in, I am fine with that- just worried that given the fact I'm shielding and pregnant, scoring me within the last 12 months is a bit hard! I have been off since March shielding, back for a month in September then got pregnant and had severe morning sickness, can I ask them to do the scoring, from before I started shielding etc?